Engineering Georgia 2025 is published bi-monthly by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Georgia (ACEC Georgia) and its partner associations ASCE, ASHE, GEF, GSPE, ITE, ITS, SAME, SEAOG, SMPS and WTS. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited.
In8 Design, ACEC Georgia, and its partner associations ASCE, ASHE, GEF, GSPE, ITE, ITS, SAME, SEAOG, SMPS and WTS, as well as their representatives, employees and agents, are held harmless from any claim, demand, liability or action on account of, or in any way arising out of, the client’s advertising, products and services, or its participation in Engineering Georgia.
EDITORIAL BOARD
CODY ROGERS, PE / ASCE Georgia
CANDANCE SCALE / SAME
CHAD BECKER Kimley-Horn
STACEY CHAPMAN CIT, Croft Architecture and Engineering
STEPHANIE DAMMEN-MORRELL Hussey Gay Bell
MICHELLE ERSTE CPSM, iParametrics / SMPS Atlanta
LIGIA FLORIM PE, Cobb County DOT / WTS Atlanta
PHILLIP HATCHER PE, SE, Uzun + Case / SEAOG
JENNY C. JENKINS PE, VHB / ASHE Georgia
CATHERINE JOHNSON AECOM / NSBE
KELLY PATRICK PE, PTOE, Cobb County DOT / ITE Georgia
JOHN PIERSON PE, Georgia Tech Research Institute / ASCE Georgia
RANDAL RIEBEL PE, Delta Air Lines / GSPE
THOMAS TRUE PE, LS, Maser Consulting
SASHA UGI Croy Engineering
BILL WELLS ITS Georgia
TThe world’s biggest sporting event is coming to Atlanta next year. No, not the Super Bowl (that will be coming back to Atlanta in 2028). It’s the World Cup. Not just a single one-day event with a week of parties leading up to it. We’re talking eight different matches on eight different days spread across an entire month, with each match drawing upwards of 70,000. And that’s just the people who are actually attending the matches. As you can imagine, there will be a lot going on in the ATL that isn’t in Mercedes-Benz Stadium (which will probably be called “FIFA Stadium Atlanta” for the month of the World Cup). It will be the largest sporting competition in Atlanta since the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
Back in 1996, Atlanta was a newbie to big-time sporting events on the world stage. It would be four more years before we even hosted our first Super Bowl. But now, we are old pros at successfully hosting Super Bowls, College Football National Championships, Final Fours, MLB All-Star Games, and the list goes on. We’ve got this.
One of the secrets to our success has been the engineering firms that have led the infrastructure and logistical efforts to ensure that visiting teams, media and spectators have a safe, efficient, and seamless experience from the time they arrive until the time they depart (likely via the World’s Busiest and Most Efficient Airport). Engineers make it happen.
Engineers have also played a major role in the planning and development of the Atlanta BeltLine, which continues to transform Atlanta under the leadership of Clyde Higgs,
President & CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. We’ve already seen how the completed sections of the BeltLine have been the catalyst for billions of dollars of private development that have revitalized the neighboring communities. It’s astounding to think about how, as additional segments are completed, more and more communities will benefit from similar private sector redevelopment investments that will result. And when plans for the “spokes” that will connect the “wheel” of the BeltLine to more neighborhoods inside the city, and greenways connecting the suburbs outside Atlanta to the BeltLine come to fruition, the impact of connecting communities across the region will be immeasurable.
As always, if there’s anything you’d like to share about how we can make Engineering Georgia better, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know at via email: sully@acecga.org or cell: (770) 356-3769.
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SULLY@ACECGA.ORG
770-356-3769
@MICHAELLSULLY
MICHAELLSULLY
MICHAELLSULLIVAN
Michael L. "Sully" Sullivan
President / CEO, ACEC Georgia
Publisher, Engineering Georgia
NEWS BRIEFS
UGA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING INDUCTS INAUGURAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING CLASS
The University of Georgia College of Engineering has established the University of Georgia Academy of Engineering, recognizing engineers who have made significant contributions to the profession and to society. Six alumni were inducted into the academy’s inaugural class during a ceremony in April.
The 2025 inductees are:
• Michael A. Brown, Class of 1969
• Jimmy L. Hill, Class of 1971
• J. Barnie Beasley, Jr., Class of 1973
• Rebecca B. Tolbert, Class of 1981
• T. Brian Crow, Class of 1997
• J. Matthew Tanner, Class of 2000
The academy was created to honor engineering excellence and leadership, while supporting advocacy and philanthropic efforts that advance the college’s mission. A permanent plaque featuring all inductees will be displayed in the Driftmier Engineering Center in Athens.
Founded over 150 years ago, UGA was the first institution in Georgia to offer engineering education and continues to play a leading role in developing the state’s engineering workforce.
VHB ATLANTA VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AND OAKLAND CEMETERY
VHB employees in Atlanta recently volunteered their time to support two sites tied to the region’s historic and natural resources. Through VHB’s Green Team and VHB Cares employee resource groups, volunteers made a tangible impact on local environmental and preservation efforts. Partnering with the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the Green Team collected litter along Proctor Creek and the Chattahoochee River, helping reduce pollution flowing through key Westside Atlanta waterways. In 2024, CRK removed 53 tons of trash from the river system, and VHB aims to support those efforts long-term. Separately, VHB Cares volunteers worked at Oakland Cemetery, where they helped maintain historic landscaping near the grave of Atlanta native and author Margaret Mitchell. Tasks included clearing invasive plants, planting native species, and improving pollinator habitats. Both initiatives reflect VHB’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and preserving Atlanta’s cultural and ecological heritage.
COLUMBUS STATE TO BUILD $22.2M ROBOTICS AND SPACE SCIENCE FACILITY
Columbus State University will begin planning a new $22.2 million joint facility for robotics, engineering, and space science following the approval of Georgia’s Fiscal Year 2026 state budget. The state’s investment of $12.2 million will be matched by $10 million in private, federal, and SPLOST funding. N
The 36,000-square-foot facility will be located on the university’s Main Campus and serve as the new home of the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. It will also provide state-of-the-art instructional space for the university’s rapidly growing Robotics Engineering program, which has expanded from six to more than 100 students in recent years.
Designed as a regional hub for advanced technologies, the facility will host robotics competitions, STEM programming, and educational partnerships with the Muscogee County School District, Fort Benning, and other regional stakeholders. It marks Columbus State’s first new state-funded academic building in over 20 years.
A timeline for construction and relocation of the Coca-Cola Space Science Center has not yet been announced.
MARTA SUPPORTS 2025 FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP WITH SEAMLESS SERVICE
MARTA provided safe, efficient service to nearly 49,000 fans during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The highest ridership came on July 5, with 25,000 trips for the PSG vs. Bayern Munich quarterfinal.
To support the event, MARTA ran additional trains, activated its Emergency Operations Center, and deployed over 500 Transit Ambassadors. MARTA Police reported no major incidents, with most calls related to heat-related medical needs. With Atlanta set to host eight matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, MARTA is preparing systemwide upgrades to deliver a world-class fan experience.
GEORGIA TECH UNVEILS CREATIVE QUARTER ON ATLANTA’S WESTSIDE
Georgia Tech has announced plans for a new mixed-use innovation district called the Creative Quarter, aimed at fostering collaboration between the arts, technology, and business. The proposed development will be located near North Avenue and Marietta Street on the edge of the Georgia Tech campus and Atlanta’s historic Westside. The Creative Quarter will blend academic spaces, research facilities, and artistic venues to support cross-disciplinary innovation. Georgia Tech envisions the area as a connector between campus and surrounding communities, particularly the English Avenue and Vine City neighborhoods. Though no construction timeline has been released, early plans include new buildings for academic and entrepreneurial programming, creative studios, and public gathering spaces. The initiative is part of Georgia Tech’s broader effort to expand its impact on urban innovation and community engagement. The project follows a growing trend of integrating technology and the arts in academic settings and builds on Georgia Tech’s strategic goals for inclusive innovation and equitable development.
SAVANNAH DISTRICT USACE DEDICATES THREE NEW VESSELS IN HONOR OF FALLEN GEORGIA SOLDIERS
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, dedicated three new hydrographic survey vessels on June 12, 2025, during a ceremony at the District’s Engineers Depot. Each vessel honors a fallen Georgiabased U.S. Army Soldier, serving as a lasting tribute to their service and sacrifice. The 30-foot Wright honors Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright of Lyons; the 27-foot Chisholm honors Sgt. Tyrone Lanard Chisholm of Savannah; and the 23-foot Beale honors Sgt. 1st Class John C. Beale of Riverdale. All vessels will support hydrographic surveying, dredging operations, and navigation safety across the Savannah District’s jurisdiction, which includes the Savannah and Brunswick Harbors and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The dedication ceremony included remarks from Savannah District Commander Col. Ron Sturgeon and the christening of each vessel by USACE Command Chaplain Col. J.R. Lorenzen. More than 160 attendees, including the Soldiers’ families, participated in person and virtually. The vessels will enhance the Corps’ ability to monitor vital waterways, including the Port of Savannah—America’s third busiest container port—and the Port of Brunswick, the nation’s largest for roll-on/roll-off cargo. A
ON THE MOVE
2MNEXT has appointed Steve Willenborg, PE, as Executive Vice President, overseeing strategic growth and operations in the Tennessee and Alabama markets. Willenborg brings over 30 years of experience in engineering consulting, construction materials testing, geotechnical engineering, and special inspections.
Prior to joining 2MNEXT, he served as Senior Vice President and COO at NOVA Engineering & Environmental, where he led multi-state operations and scaled teams to over 600 employees. His leadership strengthens 2MNEXT’s expansion across the Southeast.
ATHENA ENGINEERING
welcomes Cris Feitosa as an Associate Engineer. A recent master’s graduate, Feitosa brings strong technical expertise and a focus on transportation infrastructure. His addition supports the firm’s continued growth and commitment to developing future-ready engineering talent.
ATKINSRÉALIS
has appointed Heather Royston as Environment Business Executive for the U.S. and Latin America. In this role, Royston will lead the strategic direction of the company’s environmental operations across the region, supporting growth and sustainable solutions for clients throughout the Americas. Royston brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the environmental, sustainability, and engineering sectors. Her background includes executive roles focused on business development, operational performance, and team leadership. Prior to joining AtkinsRéalis, she led the Global Environment & Sustainability Practice at Hatch and held senior roles at APTIM, ERM, and AECOM.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Botany with an emphasis in Environmental Science from Miami University and currently serves on the advisory board for the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability.
CHA has promoted Drew Pitman to Vice President and Southeast Market Segment Leader for the Government Market. In this role, Pitman will oversee strategic growth and client engagement across Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, and South Carolina, working closely with key municipal clients, account managers, and the marketing team.
Pitman brings 18 years of consulting experience as a program and project manager. Since joining CHA in 2022 as Georgia Key Account Manager, he has played a pivotal role in expanding the firm’s presence in the state. He will now lead efforts to drive continued growth and client satisfaction throughout the Southeast. Pitman holds a B.S. in Management from Georgia Tech and serves on the ACEC Georgia Board of Directors.
EMC ENGINEERING
SERVICES announces that Ben Lockhart, PE, CFM, has been named the 2025 Civil Engineer of the Year by the ASCE Georgia Section. The award recognizes Lockhart’s technical excellence, leadership, and contributions to the profession.
Lockhart, who has been with EMC since 1993, brings over 31 years of experience in planning and designing infrastructure projects across Georgia, including storm drainage, water and sewer systems, and master planning. He accepted the award at the ASCE Georgia Section Awards Banquet in Marietta, GA, where industry leaders gathered to celebrate professional achievements and welcome the 2025–2026 board.
HUSSEY GAY BELL
has welcomed Nathan White, PE, as a Structural Engineer in the firm’s Savannah office. White brings nearly 20 years of experience in structural engineering, with a diverse portfolio spanning industrial, K-12, commercial, and residential projects. His expertise includes seismic and high-wind design, along with structural systems utilizing timber, steel, concrete, and masonry. White holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Washington State University and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from the University of Wyoming.
KCI welcomes Lamar Sylvester, PE, to the firm as part of its strategic transportation expansion efforts. Based in Raleigh, Sylvester brings decades of experience in infrastructure planning, design, and construction across the Southeast. Sylvester began his career at NCDOT in 1995, eventually serving as Chief Engineer, where he oversaw highway program areas including Technical Services, Alternative Delivery, and the 14 Highway Divisions. At KCI, he will focus on strengthening client relationships, positioning the firm for future opportunities, and supporting successful project delivery.
KECK & WOOD
announces key additions across its Traffic, Community Development, and Client Service teams: Sung Jun Park, PE, RSP1 joins as a Senior Engineer in the Traffic Market. A Georgia Tech graduate with experience at MARTA and Jacobs, he brings deep expertise in traffic engineering.
Steve Willenborg
Cris Feitosa
Heather Royston
Drew Pitman
Ben Lockhart
Nathan White
Lamar Sylvester
Sung Jun Park
Nick Mullins, PE steps into the role of Project Manager in the Traffic Market. With over 12 years of transportation engineering experience—including more than a decade with GDOT—he adds significant leadership to the team.
Jack Ihm joins as a Staff Professional in the Traffic Market after earning his master’s degree from Georgia Southern University. He supports data-driven traffic engineering solutions focused on roadway efficiency and safety.
Sam Marotta, a recent graduate from Auburn University, joins as a Staff Professional in the Traffic Market. He brings a foundation in transportation modeling and asphalt testing, first connecting with Keck & Wood at a STEM Career Fair.
Sarah Webb joins the Community Development team as a Staff Professional. A Clemson graduate with co-op experience in construction and site development, she strengthens field and design capabilities.
Nick Lasseter also joins Community Development as a Staff Professional. A recent Civil Engineering graduate from Kennesaw State, he brings experience in commercial site planning and is pursuing his EIT certification.
Kylie Moore adds support to the Community Development team as a Staff Professional. An Auburn graduate in Biosystems/ Bioprocess Engineering, she brings valuable experience from the National Center for Asphalt Technology.
Keith Gabriel joins as a Client Services Leader. With over a decade of experience in management and client relations—and degrees from Virginia Military Institute and UNC Chapel Hill—Gabriel will help bridge client needs and technical delivery, drawing on his background as a former professional basketball player.
KIMLEY-HORN has named Rob Ross, PE, as Principal following nearly 30 years of leadership in integrating transportation planning with land use. Based in Atlanta, Ross has contributed to major projects including Ponce City Market, Arthur M. Blank Hospital, Truist Park, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Nationally recognized for his expertise in transportation planning for large-scale sporting events, Ross has supported efforts for the Super Bowl, Formula 1, and the upcoming North America World Cup.
METRO TRAFIX
welcomes Gowtham Cherukumalli as Senior Traffic Engineer. With nine years of experience, Cherukumalli has supported GDOT’s Regional Traffic Operations Program (now SigOps) and led projects in signal timing, traffic studies, and design for local agencies across Georgia. Previously at Econolite, he contributed to the development of the EOS traffic controller firmware and provided technical support nationwide. He holds a B-Tech in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University and an MS in Transportation Systems Engineering from Clemson University. Cherukumalli is a licensed PE in Texas.
SOUTHEASTERN ENGINEERING
has promoted three team members as part of its continued strategic growth. Chris Maddox, PE, PTOE, has been named Director of Transportation. With 12 years of experience in Georgia’s engineering industry, Maddox will now oversee multiple divisions after previously leading SEI’s traffic group.
Matt Kimberly has been promoted to Roadway Division Manager. A subject matter expert in SEI’s roadway group, Kimberly brings extensive experience in both construction and design from his five years with the firm.
Chandler Fincher has been named Client Services Manager. After nearly five years in a project controls role, Fincher will now lead SEI’s business development and marketing initiatives.
STANTEC has welcomed three new professionals to its Atlanta office, strengthening its transportation and planning capabilities across the region. Mandeep Gill, PE joins as a Senior Transportation Engineer with more than 20 years of experience in transportation, infrastructure, and environmental engineering. Her portfolio includes roadway and highway design, multimodal facilities, and complete streets projects. She holds degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Florida and is active in ACEC-GA’s GPTQ Training Subcommittee and ASHE.
Jordan Daniell joins as a Transportation Designer, bringing over a decade of experience in transportation design and planning. A Georgia Tech graduate, Daniell is deputy chair of the YPT Atlanta board and an active member of ASHE and ACEC.
Alex Deus joins as a Senior Planner. He brings over 10 years of public and private sector urban planning experience, with expertise in land use, zoning, and transportation planning. Deus holds degrees from Florida International University and the University of Central Florida.
Nick Mullins
Jack Ihm
Sam Marotta
Sarah Webb
Nick Lasseter
Kylie Moore
Keith Gabriel
Rob Ross
Gowtham Cherukumalli
Chris Maddox
Matt Kimberly
Chandler Fincher
Mandeep Gill
Jordan Daniell
Alex Deus
THOMAS & HUTTON
Expands and Elevates Talent Across Georgia Offices. Shayla Bradshaw, PE, has been selected for the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2026. A Transportation Project Engineer based in Atlanta, Bradshaw joined T&H in 2021 and has contributed to key infrastructure projects across Georgia. She is a Georgia Tech graduate and a rising leader committed to technical excellence and community impact.
Maggie Cofer has been promoted to Marketing and Pursuits Manager. With over 20 years in the engineering industry, she leads proposal strategy and development, aligning messaging with client needs and mentoring the marketing team. Her experience in both public and private sectors brings a well-rounded perspective to the role.
Derrick Surrett has earned his Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license, marking a major milestone in his surveying career. Since joining the Buford Survey team in 2019, he has contributed to a wide range of projects, including boundary, ALTA, topographic, and as-built surveys, as well as the preparation of Final Plats for residential subdivisions. A licensed drone pilot since 2017, he also supports field crews with GNSS and total station equipment expertise.
Jesse Garcia joins the Survey department as a Staff Surveyor. In this leadership role, Garcia is responsible for directing field crews and overseeing the successful execution of a wide variety of survey assignments. His work enhances T&H’s capacity to deliver accurate, high-quality survey data across both public and private projects.
Kiana Kama joins the Landscape Architecture team as a Visualization Designer. She plays a key role in the design process by translating technical plans and early concepts into compelling visual presentations. Her responsibilities include preparing planting and hardscape plans, permit applications, cost estimates, and construction documentation.
Brad Lariscy returns to the firm as a Survey & Drone Project Manager. He oversees survey operations across industrial, commercial, and residential projects, managing the preparation of topographic maps, boundary adjustments, subdivision maps, and legal descriptions.
Clare Moroney has been promoted to Marketing and Communications Manager. Since joining the firm in 2023 as a Senior Marketing Coordinator, she has led initiatives in social media, website content, SEO, recruitment marketing, and communications. In her new role, Moroney will oversee the Communications team and continue shaping T&H’s brand strategy across digital and print platforms.
Ann Pittman joins the Civil department as a Project Coordinator. She assists with project planning, scheduling, and documentation, while facilitating communication among engineering teams, clients, and stakeholders. Her coordination efforts help ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget.
Lexi Scheele joins as a Water Resources Designer. She supports hydrologic, hydraulic, and water quality analyses for a variety of development projects. Her work contributes to stormwater system design and watershed evaluations, delivering sustainable water management solutions across the region.
TERRACON
has appointed Rathin Nair, Ph.D., as National Manager of AI and Data Science. Nair will lead efforts to integrate AI across the firm to boost efficiency and enhance client solutions. Since joining Terracon in 2024, he has advanced the development of PAVE-AI, the firm’s proprietary pavement assessment tool. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University at Buffalo and a B.Tech. from Model Engineering College in India.
TRUE NORTH
400 has named Kristin Winzeler as its new Executive Director following the appointment of former Executive Director Brandon Beach to serve as U.S. Treasurer in July 2025. Winzeler steps into the role after more than 13 years with the organization, most recently serving as Deputy Executive Director. Since joining the organization in 2012, Winzeler has played a key role in its strategic growth, overseeing more than $30 million in infrastructure enhancements that spurred over $217 million in private investment across Alpharetta, Roswell, and Milton. She also led the organization’s successful rebrand to True North 400 in 2023. As Executive Director, Winzeler will focus on driving member investment, implementing smart growth initiatives, and enhancing mobility and community experience throughout the district.
VHB Ecology Practice Lead, Alex Levy, has been awarded the 2025 Legacy Award by the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation (ICOET). The honor recognizes Levy’s more than 35 years of leadership in transportation ecology and 24 years of dedicated service to ICOET and its organizing body. He supports infrastructure and land development projects with environmental assessments, conservation strategies, and regulatory compliance for clients including GDOT. A Professional Wetlands Scientist and ISA Certified Arborist, he also mentors junior staff and contributes to national research panels under the Transportation Research Board. A
Shayla Bradshaw
Maggie Cofer
Derrick Surrett
Ann Pittman
Lexi Scheele
Jesse Garcia
Kiana Kama
Rathin Nair
Brad Lariscy
Clare Moroney
Kristin Winzeler
Alex Levy
TOP FIVE 5
Work–Life Balance Resources for Engineering Leaders
In today’s fast-paced engineering world, maintaining a healthy balance between professional demands and personal well-being is more important than ever. For leaders managing complex projects and growing teams, setting boundaries and fostering a supportive work culture is essential—not just for themselves, but for their entire organization. These top five resources offer practical strategies to help engineering leaders achieve work–life balance in 2025 and beyond.
"LEADING THE LIFE YOU WANT"
by Stewart D. Friedman
A practical guide from Wharton professor Friedman on integrating work and personal life through self-reflection and stakeholder alignment—ideal for making day-to-day decisions that support your overall balance.
ROWE
(Results-Only Work Environment)
An organizational strategy that shifts focus from hours worked to output achieved. Implementing ROWE empowers engineers to manage their schedules flexibly while delivering results.
MAVEN COURSE: "WORK LIFE BALANCE FOR LEADERS"
An online class offering tactical tips—like setting digital boundaries, encouraging "no-meeting" days, and promoting time off—for building healthier work cultures and supporting team well-being.
GOCO:
“THE QUEST FOR WORK LIFE BALANCE: AN IN DEPTH GUIDE FOR 2025”
A comprehensive digital guide offering strategies such as flexible scheduling, structured breaks, and productivity rituals to maintain mental health, productivity, and career satisfaction.
IEEE SPECTRUM:
"FITTING IT ALL IN: KEYS TO MASTERING WORK LIFE BALANCE"
This article emphasizes the importance of clear boundaries— such as defined work hours and autoresponder setups—making it a practical read for engineers balancing on-site, hybrid, and remote roles.
POLITICAL PULSE
Senate Bill 51: Bringing Best Practices to Local Government Professional Services Procurement
WWhen introduced in January of this year, Senate Bill 51 (SB 51) by Senator Ed Setzler was given the following title: “State, County, and Municipal Road Systems; contracting procedures related to the acquisition of certain professional services by counties and municipalities; revise”. It was described by a friend in the government affairs space as a “snooze fest”—which was a little hurtful, but also a little fair.
To most people, the title of that pending legislation means nothing. To many engineers, architects, land surveyors, interior designers, and procurement directors for local governments, it means a potentially significant change in the way they do business. The bill has a simple goal: extend the state’s existing requirements for Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) of professional services for projects over a certain dollar amount to Georgia’s counties and cities.
CHRISTY TARALLO
QBS is a departure from older procurement methods like low bid (pick the firm with the cheapest price) or “best value,” which evaluates firms based on price and qualifications, but which numerous studies have shown is really “low bid in lipstick,” with the cheapest firm being selected around 90% of the time, regardless of how much weight price was given in the selection scoring. Low bid and best value make sense when selecting a contractor, because the project scope and design have already been determined. But using price to procure design services on what is typically an un-scoped project up front is sort of like asking an engineer to determine how much it would cost to design a water treatment facility before determining what would be the best method of filtration to use within the constraints of the project’s budget. Actually, it’s exactly like that
Qualifications-Based Selection, as the name suggests, prioritizes qualifications – ranking the firms based on their ability to perform the job before beginning price negotiations with the top-ranked firm. While it requires an extra step, a comparative analysis found that using “best value” procurement resulted in an average of 10 additional months in the design phase compared to using QBS for similar projects.
State agencies in Georgia are required to utilize QBS for the procurement of professional services, which the statute defines as architects, interior designers, professional engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects. Local governments are also required to utilize QBS if they receive even just a penny* of federal funding.
ACROSS THE NATION, 46 STATES HAVE ADOPTED THE QBS STANDARD FOR STATE AGENCIES AND 28 STATES HAVE ADOPTED IT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
considerations. Secondly, it ensures that multiparty on-demand services contracts are allowed under the proposed law. Finally, it allows a local government that has a satisfactory existing working relationship with a professional services provider to expand that provider’s scope of services to encompass any additional work that is within the provider’s technical competence. That working relationship, and the technical competence of the firm, would be determined at the sole discretion of the local government.
OF THOSE 28 STATES, 10 OF THE 13
If passed, Senate Bill 51 would merely extend Georgia’s existing QBS requirements to also apply to local governments. In order to ease the burden on local governments utilizing the QBS process, SB 51 would only apply to projects where the estimated cost for professional services is in excess of $75,000 or if the preliminary construction estimate for the overall project is in excess of $1 million. Even within that provision, there are more exceptions for local governments. Section 3 of SB 51 outlines other variables local governments may consider when procuring professional services and clarifies that local governments make the sole determination of what qualifications are to be considered and what “most qualified” means to them, including past working relationship with the local government or knowledge of other local
The last provision is not a new and uncharted legal concept. The provision can also be found in other southern state QBS statutes, such as Tennessee, which passed a similar law with that provision a decade ago. That law, like SB 51, expanded Tennessee’s existing QBS requirements for state agencies to apply to local governments. Tennessee, much like Georgia, has a lot of small local governments with limited staff and resources. And since the passage of that bill, those local governments have successfully implemented QBS and enjoyed its benefits without any significant changes in the cost or administrative burden of design professional procurement. Georgia can benefit from these lessons learned in the implementation of QBS at the local level in Tennessee, including the QBS Guidebook the state created for local jurisdictions.
Of course, even the smallest cities and counties in Georgia already use QBS for projects that include a federal funding component.
Across the nation, 46 states require QBS for all state agencies and 28 states require it for local governments. Of those 28 states, 10 of the 13 southern states also require QBS at the local government level, including 4 of the 5 states that border Georgia.
In the more than half a century since its initial adoption by Congress, the use of QBS has expanded across the nation because it works for everyone. Local governments save time and money, and the taxpayers get a better end project. It also protects citizens from the potential dangers that can result from poorly designed infrastructure.
Senate Bill 51 is the culmination of more than 50 years of research and lessons learned from other states that have passed similar laws and is really about adopting the proven best practice for procuring design services, just like the majority of other states have. A
Ann Hanlon, Executive Director, Perimeter CID; Kristin Winzeler, Executive Director, True North 400; Krystal Harris, Program Director, ATL Airport CID; and Nikki Parris, PE, Senior Project Director, AtkinsRealis.
ACEC Georgia President and CEO, Michael “Sully” Sullivan introduces a panel discussion featuring aye DiMassimo, FAICP, Chief of Planning and Economic Development, City of Savannah; Tracy Styf, Executive Director, Town Center CID; and Eddie Wade, PE, COO and Owner, Croy
ACEC Georgia’s Rachael Sadler poses with Adam Bieber at Logic Speak’s booth. Logic Speak was this year’s Summer Conference Title Sponsor.
Keynote Speaker, Angie Miller, presents during the Conference’s open general session.
ACEC Georgia Young Professionals Network members at the 2025 Summer Conference.
Dr. Roger Tutterow provides a 2025 economic update" with "his 2025-2026 economic outlook for Georgia.
Keith Costley, CEO, Erik Grandowski, Chief Marketing Officer, and Rob Jacquette, Chief Operating Officer of Keck & Wood present during breakout sessions.
GEORGIA NUMBERS by the
115,647
PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHERS in Georgia as of 2023, helping power academic and community success.
121,301
CERTIFIED TEACHERS in Georgia public schools, dedicated to educating and inspiring the next generation.
2,316
PUBLIC SCHOOLS operating across the state, offering diverse programs and opportunities for students of all backgrounds.
181,814
STUDENTS ENROLLED in Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia’s largest school district.
1.75
MILLION
Students enrolled in Georgia’s public K-12 schools, learning and growing in every corner of the state.
For Atlanta’s Traffic Engineers, Next Summer Brings An ‘Unparalleled’ Challenge
WWhen the city of Atlanta presented its bid to be a host city for the 2026 World Cup, its multilayered transportation network played a significant role. The Georgia capital boasted the world’s busiest airport, the nation’s eighth-largest public transit system by ridership, an expansive highway system—and as important, a savvy team of traffic engineers with a proven track record of making it all work together.
“Atlanta’s robust and interconnected transportation infrastructure played a critical role in our selection as a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” said Dan Corso, President of the Atlanta Sports Council and the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee. “… As one of the most frequent hosts of global sporting events, Atlanta has shown that we have the infrastructure in place to reliably handle the immense scale of hosting major sporting events while creating a seamless experience for teams, fans, and media.” N
DAVID CARAVIELLO
“WE BRING OUR A-GAME TO EVERY EVENT WE MANAGE.”
That approach was rewarded on June 16, 2022, when Atlanta was officially named one of 16 host cities for the tournament to be played throughout North America—in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host eight matches from June 15 to July 15, including Round of 32, Round of 16, and semifinal contests. With over 70,000 people expected for each game, it shapes up as Atlanta’s largest international sporting event since the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996.
From a transportation perspective, that event can bring back bad memories—inexperienced bus drivers, shuttles lost between remote parking lots and venues, athletes showing up late for competitions. But a lot has changed over the past 30 years in Atlanta, including the city’s ability to handle the transportation challenges surrounding major events. The experience built over multiple Super Bowls, Final Fours, marquee college football games, and soccer tournaments such as the recent Club World Cup will all be brought to bear next summer, when the world again returns to Atlanta.
“Mercedes-Benz Stadium has hosted multiple high-profile events since 2017, giving us years of experience in managing special events. Throughout these events, we have collaborated closely with stakeholders and continuously improved our approaches. In Atlanta, we don’t consider any event to be practice runs—we bring our A-game to every event we manage,” said Allison Laber, a Traffic Engineer with Kimley-Horn, which will support GDOT and the city of Atlanta with two teams dedicated to World Cup transportation management.
SCALING UP
“We'll be applying insights from Super Bowl LIII in 2019 and the most recent College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this past January,” she added. “While the FIFA Club World Cup events that took place were different than what we expect in 2026, they allowed us to build valuable relationships with FIFA through real-time collaboration during those events. These experiences have enabled us to refine our strategies and ensure we're prepared for the unique needs of the FIFA World Cup.”
SCALING UP
The most recent Super Bowl held in Atlanta, the 2019 title clash between the Patriots and Rams, certainly showed all that collaboration and experience at work. Tried-and-true transportation management strategies allowed engineers to whisk the New England and Los Angeles team buses from one location to another, and clear intersections to allow for pedestrian passage in areas near the stadium with heavy foot traffic.
“Parts of the plan from Super Bowl LIII are still relevant to special event operations, and current operational strategies were designed in such a way to scale up for larger events like the World Cup,” said Justin Hatch, Assistant State Traffic Engineer for GDOT. “However, it is essential that plans such as these continually be revisited to address changes in infrastructure, shifting transportation modes, current road user priorities, and unique event context.” N
FIFA HAS ESTIMATED THAT NEXT SUMMER’S TOURNAMENT WILL ATTRACT 3.7 MILLION FANS TO THE 11 HOST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
Wait—scale up, from the Super Bowl? Indeed, there’s a reason the World Cup is known as the planet’s largest sporting event. FIFA has estimated that next summer’s tournament will attract 3.7 million fans to the 11 host cities in the United States. No wonder, then, that traffic engineers stress that the Super Bowl and World Cup are very different animals from a transportation management perspective.
As big as it is, the Super Bowl is the climax of a week-long event, and culminates with just one game involving two teams. The World Cup will stretch on for a month, Atlanta will host at least nine different teams (the official schedule stipulates one match in each of Groups A, C, and K, and two in Group H), and the event will be loaded with ancillary events like concerts, festivals, and watch parties. Those managing transportation around Atlanta’s matches won’t know until after the December draw which teams are bound for the Peach State—although it won’t be the U.S. for the group stage, whose preliminary matches are already booked for Los Angeles and Seattle.
“The FIFA World Cup is unparalleled with more matches, teams, and days, spanning a massive geography across three countries,” Laber said. “Each of the eight FIFA World Cup matches will indeed bring unique complexities. A lot will depend on factors like team draws, match times, and the overall number of people coming to Atlanta, beyond just those attending the FIFA Fan Festival or the matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Each match, especially a semifinal versus a group stage match, will have a unique fan base and different user groups, so the plan will need to be adaptable and coordinated among local stakeholders.” N
Added GDOT’s Hatch: “We've proven that we can handle high volumes of visitors and readily adapt to the specific context of a given event. That said, international soccer brings a unique set of challenges and opportunities—from the diversity of fans to the global attention it draws. We're approaching this with a deep respect for that uniqueness and a clear-eyed understanding that it requires flexible, responsive planning. We continue to work closely with our partners in transportation and public safety to ensure that we prepared for the expected, while developing contingency plans for the unexpected.”
Managing those uncertainties hinges on having a solid plan in place. The city of Atlanta, Laber said, is leading the development of a comprehensive mobility plan that integrates all modes of transportation—including pedestrian, transit, rideshare, and personal vehicles— into a unified strategy. GDOT will manage its statewide signal operations and maintenance program, known as “SigOps,” which ensures traffic signals are optimized to respond to conditions on the ground. The metro Atlanta SigOps team, led by engineer Sam Hendow, will update its downtown special events playbook to reflect the unique transportation needs and challenges of the World Cup.
Kimley-Horn supports those efforts through two dedicated teams working on World Cup transportation. One is collaborating with the city of Atlanta to develop its mobility plan for the tournament, which will be built to ensure the safe and efficient movement of fans, teams, officials, and other stakeholders. In addition, a Kimley-Horn signal operations team will play a central role in active traffic management around Mercedes-Benz Stadium, other downtown Atlanta locations, and beyond. N
“THE CITY OF ATLANTA IS LEADING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE MOBILITY PLAN THAT INTEGRATES ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION— INCLUDING PEDESTRIAN, TRANSIT,ANDRIDESHARE, PERSONAL VEHICLES—INTO A UNIFIED STRATEGY.”
“THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF AN EVENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL BE FELT ACROSS THE ENTIRE METRO AREA.”
“While the primary impact will be concentrated in downtown Atlanta, the ripple effects of an event of this magnitude will be felt across the entire metro area,” said Kimley-Horn Traffic Engineer Jackie Kawa. “And our team will be actively engaged in mitigating those impacts across the region.”
SIGOPS AND SCRAMBLES
It was called the “green carpet,” and it unfolded with the seamlessness of any other big play executed on that Super Bowl Sunday in Atlanta in early 2019. As the Rams and Patriots team buses rolled from their hotels to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, one traffic signal after another flipped to green to keep them moving. The same tactic was used for shuttles carrying cheerleaders, referees, and even media members—all part of an effort to keep traffic flowing on a weekend when all eyes were on Atlanta.
“The ‘green carpet’ concept involves clearing traffic ahead of escorted movements, reducing the need for vehicles to pull over or for escorts to travel on the wrong side of the roadway, and quickly return traffic signal operations to their normal state,” Kawa said. “This not only minimizes delays, but also ensures safer and more reliable operation for both pedestrians and vehicles. Successfully implementing a ‘green carpet’ requires ongoing coordination between transportation engineers and officers.”
And it’s just one tactic transportation engineers can use during the 2026 World Cup, where nobody wants to see the Brazil or Argentina team buses—assuming one of those powers is assigned to the city—stuck at a red light. Another is called a ‘pedestrian scramble,’ in which engineers temporarily stop vehicular traffic in all four directions in high-pedestrian areas like the immediate vicinity of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, to allow walkers to cross the intersection in any way they wish, even diagonally.
“The other strategy we have is to spread out the traffic,” Hatch said. “There are multiple ways for attendees to access parking decks, but most drivers try to use the same ‘front door’ entrance. By restricting turn movements or ways to access certain parking decks, we spread out the demand.”
The same tactic can be used for egress, to avoid the prospect drivers all trying to exit downtown Atlanta using the same interstate ramp at Ivan Allen Boulevard and Williams Street. “The plan only directs a small number of people to the Williams ramp by restricting turns and directing drivers to use all the freeway entrance points to the north, south, and east of downtown,” Hatch said. “This can also be aided by programming the turn restrictions in Waze and other mapping systems.” N
The entire operation will be run out of GDOT’s Emergency Operations Center, which Hatch said will serve as the primary management command center for the World Cup, with representatives of GDOT, city of Atlanta DOT, Atlanta police, and the Georgia World Congress Center on site. The SigOps teams will manage traffic signal changes—largely remotely, rather than relying on individuals standing physically at interchange boxes—while maintaining contact with police and Kimley-Horn engineers in the vicinity of the stadium and on the ground.
It all breeds a sense of teamwork burnished from one big event to the next. “Metro Atlanta has many jurisdictional boundaries which lead to unique challenges in managing large numbers of people throughout a major metropolitan region,” Hatch said. “By collaborating over many years, all these stakeholders have worked to reach consensus on operational goals, eliminate silos, distribute valuable resources, and ensure availability expertise regardless of jurisdictional boundaries.”
SETTING ATLANTA APART
Those levels of cooperation and communication are major reasons why Atlanta’s major-event transportation management has come so far in the three decades since the 1996 Olympics. FIFA’s confidence in the city is plainly evident in the fact that the Georgia capital was awarded eight matches in the 2026 World Cup, tied for second-most of any host city behind Dallas with nine. “Hosting eight matches, including key group and knockout stage games, speaks volumes about FIFA’s confidence in Atlanta,” said Corso, of the Atlanta Sports Council. “It’s a strong endorsement of the city’s infrastructure, hospitality community, venues, and organizational readiness and preparedness. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of the most technologically advanced venues in the world, and the city’s track record for delivering top-tier fan experiences clearly influenced the decision. In Atlanta, we are fortunate to have a group of organizations and individuals that are accustomed to working together to ensure operational readiness when we are hosting major global sporting events.” N
“BY COLLABORATING OVER MANY YEARS, ALL THESE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE WORKED TO REACH CONSENSUS ON OPERATIONAL GOALS, ELIMINATE SILOS, DISTRIBUTE VALUABLE RESOURCES, AND ENSURE AVAILABILITY
“THIS IS THE KIND OF CHALLENGE THAT MOTIVATES US— HELPING ATLANTA CREATE A WORLDCLASS EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE WHO STEPS FOOT IN OUR CITY.”
Kimley-Horn is no stranger to that effort, having also worked on the 2018 College Football Playoff national championship and the 2019 Super Bowl. “Much like a well-coordinated soccer team, our culture of teamwork and support will be pivotal in navigating the complexities of such a major event,” Laber said. “Our team thrives on these opportunities and loves the work we do. Not just us at Kimley-Horn, but all stakeholders involved. Our long hours during the Super Bowl were some of the most rewarding moments in our careers, because everyone felt like they were contributing to something meaningful and showcasing Atlanta on the global stage.”
Over at GDOT, Hatch feels the same way. “The World Cup will be the largest event that I have ever been a part of managing, and I’m absolutely looking forward to it,” he said. “This is the kind of challenge that motivates us—helping Atlanta create a world-class experience for everyone who steps foot in our city. Every person on our team is excited to serve a part in getting people to and from these events safely and with as little disruption as possible.”
The World Cup transportation plan will be ramped up over time, Laber said, to accommodate the buildup of events that will precede the actual matches themselves. Kimley-Horn also plans to conduct tabletop sessions with other key transportation partners to try and game plan various scenarios, including some that may be unexpected or unlikely. A similar effort paid dividends three days before the 2018 college football national championship, when President Trump decided to attend the game. N
“We swiftly pivoted and adapted the plan accordingly,” Laber said. “Our plans are not static—they require active management and constant communication from experienced engineers and public safety officials to be effective. This flexibility, and our ability to quickly adapt, are what give us confidence in handling the unique challenges of any major event, including the FIFA World Cup.”
It's the kind of dexterity that only experience and collaboration can create. Indeed, Atlanta has come a very long way from those wayward buses and frayed nerves that came to define the Olympic experience for many visitors three decades ago. As the NFL, the NCAA, and now FIFA have recognized, the ability to successfully manage transportation around major sporting events is now viewed as one of the city’s strengths.
“There is a high level of confidence in Atlanta and Georgia's ability to manage traffic during the FIFA World Cup 2026, thanks to the deep experience of our local and state partners managing high-capacity events. Atlanta has successfully hosted two Super Bowls, two College Football Playoff national championships, multiple Final Fours, and major conventions that have drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors. Each of those events required immense coordination between city and state agencies, regional transit and law enforcement,” Corso said.
“What sets Atlanta apart is the continuity of planning expertise and the regular joint exercises that GDOT and the city conduct with other stakeholders. These teams are not starting from scratch—they’re building on decades of data, tested playbooks, and real-world successes.” A
Atlanta Beltline readies to meet the world in 2026
TThree years after the 1996 Olympic flame was extinguished, Georgia Tech graduate student Ryan Gravel wrote a master’s thesis on the prospect of using former rail lines to create a connective loop around Atlanta. Now, as the Georgia capital prepares to host its largest international sporting event since those games, that loop isn’t just a reality—it also promises to be a principal route to and from the matches of next summer’s World Cup. N
YOU ADD A HALF A MILLION PEOPLE VISITING THE CITY OF ATLANTA DURING THE WORLD CUP, AND THAT’S GOING TO IMPACT THE BELTLINE, CLEARLY. AND WE’VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO PREPARE FOR THAT.
Since its beginnings two decades ago, the Atlanta Beltline has evolved into a transportation and economic development corridor that’s gradually winding its way around the city—providing not just avenues for walking, bicycling, and recreation, but also commercial development and affordable housing. By the time the matches of the 2026 World Cup kick off, 18 of the Beltline’s planned 22 miles will be completed, while a connector trail will lead to the hub of the action around Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta will host eight matches in the World Cup—tied for second among all host cities in the competition, spread across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada—spanning June 15 to July 15, 2026. With over 70,000 people expected for each match, the world’s most popular sporting event could bring unprecedented user volume to the Beltline.
“That’s what we’re anticipating,” said Clyde Higgs, Atlanta Beltline President and CEO. “In 2024, we recorded over 2.5 million visits on the Beltline, and the warm months are when we have our highest traffic use. We’re talking about 300,000 people on the Beltline in June or July. You add a half a million people visiting the city of Atlanta during the World Cup, and that’s going to impact the Beltline, clearly. And we’ve done a lot of work to prepare for that.”
For the Beltline, the timing is ideal—in June officials cut the ribbon on Westside Trail 4, which extends a Westside Trail that is currently the Beltline’s longest at 6.7 miles. The segment picks up at Lena Street and continues north to Law Street, where it connects with the Westside Beltline Connector—the spur route that can be used to get within a half-mile of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. N
“If you're staying somewhere on the on the Westside, you'll be able to get pretty close to the stadium from there,” Higgs said. By next summer, the Beltline on the map will look like an extended capital U wrapping around three sides of the city, “so you’ll be able to access Mercedes-Benz Stadium from the east, from the south, from the west. You'll have lots of options to get into the stadium, and that is the part that excites me.”
OFF THE RAILS
For the Beltline, though, Westside Trail 4 was the key piece of the puzzle as officials looked ahead to the 2026 World Cup. Of course, that was hardly a concern when planning for the route began in earnest in 2019—Atlanta and the 15 other host cities for the combined U.S./Mexico/Canada event weren’t formally announced until three years later. The most pressing issue was how to continue a railroad trail in areas where no old railroads existed.
Indeed, Westside Trail 4 quite literally went off the rails.
“A lot of people forget that the Beltline is a rail trail project. It’s a brownfield development. And while I would say about 70 percent of segment 4 was on rail, there was about 30 percent that was not,” said Britt Storck, director of landscape architecture at Alta Planning and Design, which developed the trail. “We had to use a lot of structural intervention, and coming up with those solutions was something our team did really well.” N
Photo Courtesy of John Becker
WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO WEAVE THROUGH STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE THIS A REALITY.
While old railbeds aren’t flat, Storck added, their infrastructure tends to be fairly predictable, with bridges and other pieces of important connective tissue already in place. But in the case of Westside Trail 4, the old railbeds ended in a more urban area “that’s not necessarily set up for a shared-use path,” she added.
The lack of an existing rail corridor meant “we’re going to have to weave through streets and neighborhoods to make this a reality,” Higgs recalled. Early on, the Alta team spent lots of time vetting different route alternatives, with the final result skirting past a skate park and through a series of residential areas along Washington Park, a historically significant neighborhood established over a century ago as one of Atlanta’s first planned Black suburbs.
The Westside Trail 4 project includes a 14-footwide concrete multi-use path as well as vertical connections to adjoining streets, stainless steel handrails and guardrails, storm drainage, lighting and security cameras. The Alta team put in 168 different types of plants, and was able to show off its creative side in crafting hardscaped plazas and access points. N
LET'S SAY YOU'RE A VISITOR FROM ARGENTINA OR FROM GHANA, AND YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO GET A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE, OR WHERE THERE’S GOOD SHOPPING. THE ACTUALLY HELP YOU IN THAT SENSE.
“We’re super thrilled with how it turned out,” Storck said. “Beltline staff are extremely dialed into their projects, ensuring their standards are met. “Our design team, Alta’s landscape architects and engineers, the construction team, and the builder, they all did a great job. We all work together as sort of this three-legged team to make sure that we’re all a part of this project.”
SLICING THE PIE
Clyde Higgs calls them the “Beltline ambassador force.” They’re men and women wearing green shirts and khaki pants who will be a regular presence on the Beltline— helping residents and visitors not only use the trail system to get to the 2026 World Cup matches, but also take advantage of the shops, cafes, coffee houses, and other commercial establishments that have sprung up alongside it.
“Let's say you're a visitor from Argentina or from Ghana, and you want to know where to get a good cup of coffee, or where there’s good shopping. The ambassador force will actually help you in that sense,” Higgs said. “Or if there is a concern that you might have, these men and women will help to create a better experience along the Beltline. Our priority is safety and security, and then also making sure that our businesses along the Beltline get a significant slice of this pie.” N
Photo Courtesy of The Sintoses
Photo Courtesy of Beltline.org
MAILCHIMP ESTIMATES THAT A THIRD OF ITS WORKFORCE USES THE BELTLINE TO COMMUTE TO WORK, TAKING 900 CARS OFF THE STREET.
Indeed, a key element of the Beltline from the very beginning has been the fact that it’s not just a trail—it’s also a driver of economic development. And there have been real successes on that front; located off the Eastside Trail, MailChimp estimates that a third of its workforce uses the Beltline to commute to work, Higgs said, taking 900 cars off the street. Through land purchases and partnerships, the Beltline is at nearly 77 percent of its goal of having 5,600 affordable housing units built within its Tax Allocation District by the end of 2030. N
Photo Courtesy of HGOR
WHEN I JOINED THE BELTLINE, OUR ANNUAL BUDGET WAS ABOUT $33 MILLION. OUR BOARD JUST ALLOWED US TO PASS A $240 MILLION BUDGET.
“When I joined the Beltline, our annual budget was about $33 million. Our board just allowed us to pass a $240 million budget,” said Higgs, who came aboard as chief operating officer in September of 2015. “We are literally in the throes of our heavy construction years for the Beltline. There's a lot of good activity going on there.”
And it will all be amped up during the 2026 World Cup, which, according to organizer FIFA, is expected to attract 3.7 million fans to the 11 host cities in the United States. Higgs envisions fans perhaps accessing the trail at Lee + White, a Lee Street development along the Beltline with a food hall and brewery. Or perhaps they’ll access Ponce Street Market, the former Sears building at Ponce de Leon Avenue, which features a wealth of shopping and dining options along the Eastside Trail.
“As the city of Atlanta experiences growth, and more international events like the World Cup are drawn to Atlanta, the Beltline is a key ingredient,” said Storck, an Atlanta native who sold lemonade and collectible pins as a high school student at the 1996 Olympics. “It provides a way to get around, allowing for this connectivity without needing a car. But then, it's also a destination in and of itself. The businesses, the restaurants, the parks along the way, the people who use the trail—it’s all just this beautiful cross-section of Atlanta.” N
Photo Courtesy of John Becker
BEYOND 2030, WE'LL HAVE CREATED THIS SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE 45 NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE WILL INITIALLY CONNECT. BUT HOW BENEFICIAL WOULD IT BE IF WE COULD CONNECT TO EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA?
BEYOND 2026
The 2026 World Cup will come and go, but the Beltline will continue. With the Westside Trail in place, work will soon begin to focus on the northwest section of the oval—where the topography can be challenging, some bridges may need to be shored up, and like Westside Trail 4 there’s not always an existing railbed to build on. “That’s going to take significant effort,” Higgs said.
Even so, Higgs is confident that the Beltline remains on target to complete the full 22-mile loop by 2030, which was its original goal. After that, though, he envisions something even grander. Once the circle is finished, Higgs wants to start filling in the spokes in the middle.
“Beyond 2030, we'll have created this significant piece of infrastructure for the community, and we're very proud of the 45 neighborhoods that we will initially connect. But how beneficial would it be if we could connect to every single neighborhood in the city of Atlanta?” Higgs said. “Now that's ambitious, and we're having conversations about the appropriate funding mechanisms to make that happen.”
After all, the World Cup will hardly be the last major sporting event to visit Atlanta. The NFL’s Super Bowl is returning for the fourth time in 2019, and the men’s college basketball Final Four in 2031. With each year, each mile completed, each economic development success, and each big event awarded to the capital of the Peach State, the Atlanta Beltline becomes even more integral to the city’s transportation framework.
“We're improving how people move without needing a car, and that is what makes a city more of an international city,” Storck said. “So it's really cool to see that Beltline is such a huge, huge part of that inherent connectivity, and not just for transportation. It's something else to do while you're here. It's a way to see Atlanta beyond just sports.” A
DARREN MICKLER
PELS Boards Executive Director
www.sos.ga.gov
PREPARING FOR RENEWAL: WHAT GEORGIA ENGINEERS AND SURVEYORS NEED TO KNOW
By Darren Mickler, Executive Director
As fall approaches, the Georgia Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Board is gearing up for the second annual license renewal cycle for Professional Engineers (P.E.), Structural Engineers (S.E.), and Professional Land Surveyors (P.L.S.). This year’s process—set to go live in mid-October—marks a milestone in streamlining licensure, auditing continuing education, and reinforcing professional accountability across the professions.
A SMOOTHER PROCESS IN EVOKE
Unlike the initial renewal in Evoke, this year’s renewal process should be considerably more efficient. All licensees who need to renew for 2025 should already have an Evoke account, eliminating the need for initial setup or linking your license. If you've forgotten your login credentials, don't worry - simply use the "Forgot Password" function, and a secure reset code will be sent to your registered email address.
RANDOM CONTINUING EDUCATION AUDITS
For the first time using the EVOKE system, the Board will be conducting random audits of a percentage of licensees to verify compliance with continuing education (CE) requirements. Selected individuals will be notified and asked to provide documentation of completed CE activities.
Professional Land Surveyors (P.L.S.)
• 7.5 hours of CE per 12-month period
• At least 3 hours every two years must cover Minimum Technical Standards (MTS), including Georgia-specific laws and Board rules
• Up to 3.75 excess hours may be carried forward Dual License Holders (P.E. + P.L.S.)
• 15 total hours per year
• At least one-third in engineering and one-third in surveying; the remaining hours may be in either discipline
• Up to 7.5 excess hours may carry forward Structural Engineers (S.E.)
• P.E. registrants who also hold an S.E. license may fulfill CE in either discipline
CE EXEMPTIONS
All registrants are encouraged to review Board Rule 180-11: Continuing Professional Competency, available online at rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/180-11. This rule outlines:
• Required credit hours
• Acceptable continuing education activities
• Recordkeeping responsibilities
• Conditions for exemption
Licensees who are newly registered through examination or comity are exempt from CE requirements during their first renewal cycle.
UNDERSTANDING CE REQUIREMENTS
The Board expects licensees to take ownership of their professional growth by selecting CE activities relevant to their discipline and ensuring compliance with Board standards. The requirements vary by license type:
Professional Engineers (P.E.)
• 15 hours of CE per 12-month renewal period
• Up to 7.5 excess hours may be carried forward to the next period
The Board recognizes that certain situations may warrant exemption from continuing education requirements. Exemptions may be granted for:
• Documented medical issues or hardships (subject to Board approval)
• Inactive license holders over age 65 who are no longer offering professional services
• Active licensees over age 65 who have held a Georgia license for 25 consecutive years
Please note: Licensees who are exempt from CE through hardship or Inactivation may continue to use the P.E. or L.S. designation, provided they do not engage in professional practice.
USE NCEES TO TRACK YOUR CE ACTIVITIES
To streamline tracking and reporting, the Board highly recommends using the NCEES Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) Tracking system, available through your MyNCEES account. This free tool allows you to:
• Log CE hours
• Upload supporting documentation
• Submit records easily if selected for audit
As the Board moves toward more comprehensive CE audits in the future, this system may become mandatory.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As we move into another renewal cycle, the Board remains committed to promoting professional excellence while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens. Your continued attention to ethics, education, and compliance ensures that Georgia’s engineers and surveyors remain trusted stewards of public safety and innovation.
For full details, updates, and access to rules, visit: pels.georgia.gov
ANITA ATKINSON, P.E., F.ASCE
Patterson & Dewar Engineers, Inc.
ASCE Georgia President www.ascega.org
ASCE GEORGIA 2025 ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET AND GALA
The 2025 Gala was a huge success, thanks to all who attended and contributed to the evening! Congrats to all the winners:
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
• Civil Engineer of the Year – Benjamin Lockhart
• Young Civil Engineer of the Year – Katie Kelly & Ehsanul Kabir
• Lifetime Achievement Award - Birdel Jackson STUDENTS OF THE YEAR
• Kamron Brown – GA Southern
• Anthony Marteniuc – KSU
• Jalen Cunanan – GT VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR – Dr. Tien Yee & Aishwary Chawda PRESIDENT’S AWARDS – Daniel Simons & Yashira Lopez (UGA) LIFETIME IMPACT - Steven McCutcheon
• Bobby Sauer PROJECTS OF
EXCELLENCE
• Aviation: WSP - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport South De-icing Complex Ramp
• Water Resources: Brown & Caldwell - Big Creek WRF Expansion
Benjamin Lockhart – Civil Engineer of the Year
BIRDEL JACKSON – LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Kathleen (Katie) Kelly – Young Civil Engineer of the Year - Private Practice
Aishwary Chawda - Volunteer of the Year – Private Practice
6468: Tien Yee – Volunteer of the Year – Education
Ehsanul Kabir - Young Civil Engineer of the Year – Government
Steven McCutcheon – Lifetime Impact Award
Kamron Brown – Civil Engineering Student of the Year – GA Southern
Adjo Amekudzi-Kennedy accepting award for Civil Engineering Student of the Year – GT on behalf of Jalen Cunanan
Yashira Lopez (left) and Daniel Simons (right) –President’s Award
ROBERT (BOBBY) SAUER – PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Lowe Engineers team accepting the Project of Excellence award for Dunwoody Nature Center Wetland Restoration & Boardwalk
WSP team accepting the Project of Excellence award for the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport South De-icing Complex Ramp
Brown & Caldwell team accepting the Project of Excellence award for the Big Creek WRF Expansion
Lowe Engineers team accepting the Project of Excellence award for Ashford Dunwoody Path – Phase I
Anthony Marteniuc - Civil Engineering Student of the Year – Kennesaw State
Outgoing President Anita Atkinson speaks to the attendees
SARAH BLACKBURN, PE
Gresham Smith
ASHE Georgia President www.georgia.ashe.pro
INTRODUCING ASHE GEORGIA CHAPTER OFFICERS FOR NEXT YEAR:
President: Lindsey Dunnahoo (AECOM)
1st Vice President: Jennifer Lott (Aulick Engineering)
2nd Vice President: James Nguyen (Peachtree Corners)
Treasurer: Pervez Iqbal (NV5)
Co-Treasurer: Ravi Vachhani (Moffat & Nichol)
Secretary: Jenny Lee (Cobb County)
Co-Secretary: Jibon Deb (STV)
Immediate Past President: Sarah Blackburn (Gresham Smith)
Director Year 1: Steve Mosher (Barge Design)
Director Year 2: Ben Kauss (HDR)
Director Year 3: Tori Pustotnik (WSP)
RECAP 2025 NATIONAL CONFERENCE:
This year ASHE National was held in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania on June 4th – 8th. It was a few days filled with networking, interesting technical sessions, and various events around the region! Thank you to the Delaware Valley, East Penn, and North East Penn Sections of ASHE for hosting everyone!
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL:
Membership with ASHE provides you with access to excellent technical programs and networking opportunities throughout the year. Log in to your ASHE account through our website to renew your membership.
Some of us met at The Roof at Ponce City Market to enjoy the early summer and the beautiful views of Atlanta with drinks and games.
ATLANTA UNITED SOCCER GAME
Our Young Member Committee had so much fun at the Atlanta United soccer game, enjoying the company!
2025 MAY MONTHLY MEETING
Our May Monthly Meeting, jointly hosted with ITS Georgia, featured an exciting panel discussion on 2026 World Cup Planning, attracting nearly 180 participants!
2025 JUNE MONTHLY MEETING
Our June Monthly Meeting highlighted five (5) outstanding young members who shared their careers and exciting projects they’re working on.
ANDREW FARMER, PE
Gresham Smith
GEF Secretary
andrew.farmer@greshamsmith.com www.gefinc.org
THE GEORGIA ENGINEERING FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO SUPPORT GEORGIA’S FUTURE ENGINEERS THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND INSPIRING STEM EVENTS. HERE’S THE LATEST:
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
2025–2026 GEF Scholarships
• Deadline: September 30, 2025
• Awards of $1,000–$5,000, with approximately 50 scholarships available totaling up to $85,000.
• Open to Georgia residents enrolled in ABET-accredited engineering, engineering technology, or construction management programs—ranging from freshmen to graduate students LinkedIn+3Access Scholarships+3National STEM Honor Society™+3Scholarships.com.
• Ideal candidates: strong academics, community involvement, and financial need.
ACTION FOR STUDENTS:
Encourage applicants to prepare transcripts, essays, references, and photos. Promote via schools, chapters, and social platforms.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Spread the word: Share scholarship info with students and educators across Georgia.
2. Serve as a reviewer: Offer your time and expertise during the selection process this fall.
3. Volunteer or sponsor events: Engage in outreach efforts like April's engineering day for girls.
For more information, application guidelines, and support opportunities, visit the GEF website at gefinc.org or contact the Foundation via email or phone (listed on the site).
AUSTIN DUEHR, PE
GSPE President
www.gspe.org
RETHINKING ENGINEERING: THE ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Engineering is often associated with logic, problem-solving, and technical skills. We’re trained to analyze, calculate, and reason— abilities tied to our intelligence quotient (IQ). But being a successful engineer takes more than just technical know-how. It also requires communication, teamwork, adaptability, and perhaps most importantly, emotional intelligence (EQ).
EQ is the ability to recognize and manage your own emotions and understand the emotions of others. It’s essential for navigating conflict, building strong teams, and leading effectively. While EQ may not be part of the typical engineering curriculum, it’s a critical component of professional success.
THE HUMAN ELEMENT IN ENGINEERING
Emotions influence our decisions, shape our interactions, and reveal our passions. Leaders who bring positive energy to the workplace—through curiosity, enthusiasm, and empathy—often see those same qualities reflected by their teams. Just as children respond to the emotional tone of adults, new professionals often mirror the mindset of their mentors.
Young engineers are eager to learn and grow. Leaders who practice emotional intelligence can help them gain confidence, overcome fear of failure, and ask questions without hesitation. The result is a stronger, more resilient team.
JOIN GSPE AS WE CELEBRATION OF GEORGIA’S NEWEST PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ON SEPTEMBER 18TH! LEARN MORE AT GSPE.ORG
LEADERSHIP WITH EMOTIONAL AWARENESS
Managing projects is about more than just timelines and budgets. It’s about guiding people toward a shared goal. The most effective leaders listen, adapt, and motivate. They create an environment where people feel valued and supported.
Here are a few ways to lead with emotional intelligence:
• Learn what motivates each team member. Set meaningful goals and recognize progress.
• Listen actively when someone struggles. Help them find their own solutions.
• Support growth by facilitating, not dictating.
As Dale Carnegie once said, “We are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion.” Leaders who embrace this idea can turn technical teams into high-performing, engaged groups that thrive under pressure.
“If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view...”
—Henry Ford
Emotional intelligence isn’t just a soft skill. It’s a powerful tool that helps engineers lead, grow, and succeed in today’s complex and collaborative workplace.
Austin Duehr, P.E., ENV SP, is a Project Manager at Pond & Company and the 2025 GSPE Young Engineer of the Year. He currently serves as board chair of Georgia Society of Professional Engineers. The original article was published in PE Magazine Fall 2023.
MATT GLASSER, PE
Arcadis
ITS Georgia President president@itsga.org www.itsga.org
GDOT PRESENTS ON THE TOWING AND RECOVERT INCENTIVE PROGRAM (TRIP)
ITSGA AND GAITE HOST JOINT MEETING ON WORLD CUP PLANNING
With preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup ongoing, members of the planning committee took time out of their schedules to sit down and update our members on their efforts. Justin Hatch (GDOT), Lenor Bromberg (ATLDOT), Chief Paul Guerrucci (Georgia World Congress Center), and Erin Hendrickson (Atlanta Sports Council) participated in a panel discussion led by moderator, Allison Laber (Kimley-Horn), which covered the challenges that Atlanta and other cities around the country are facing as they prepare to host thousands of fans from around the world.
Erin provided an overview of how Atlanta pursued and ultimately was selected as a host city for the FIFA World Cup. Justin gave a great explanation of how Georgia has prepared for large scale events with technology and ITS deployments over the last decade, including more recent connected vehicle deployments. Lenor enlightened us on the involvement that the city has had in preparation for the FIFA World Cup including the mobility plan, sustainability plan, and public safety plans. And Chief Guerrucci explained the challenges that the Georgia World Congress Center staff, in partnership with Mercedes Benz Stadium, have had to overcome to make special event management second nature.
Atlanta has a rich and recent history of large-scale events including the Super Bowl, Final Four, College Football Championship, and most recently, the Club World Cup. One of the reasons that these events continue to select Atlanta as a destination is the massive effort that has been put forth by all stakeholders to prepare for and manage them safely and effectively. We are all looking forward to hosting several matches, team base camps, and our family from around the world in 2026 and look forward to many events to come!
ITSGA was delighted to host Jason Josey, GDOT’s Incident Response Program Manager, to provide an overview of GDOT’s TRIP expansion along I-75, all the way to the Tennessee State Line and I-85, which now stretches from the Alabama State Line to the South Carolina State Line. TRIP began in 2008 to provide incentives to selected towing companies to arrive and clear the scene of high impact crashes along the Interstate Highway system in Georgia and has done just that. Prior to 2008, the average high impact incident took over 200 minutes to clear. Within the first year, the average clear time was reduced to 57 minutes and saw continued improvement over through 2024. TRIP not only reduced incident clear time, it also continues to operate with a massive benefit cost ratio of over 25.
Jason also provided us with an update of the new technology that is being deployed throughout the state including responder vehicle tracking, enhanced coordination with first responders, and the transparency with which GDOT operates the program.
CATCHUP ON OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS ON YOUTUBE
All of ITS Georgia’s technical content is loaded onto our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@ITSGeorgia). If you are unable to attend a meeting, we hope you are able to find time to join us after the fact to catch up on the exciting content that you missed! Remote options are always available if you cannot attend in person but want to catch our meetings live!
THE 2026 ITS SOUTHEAST SUMMIT TECHNICAL COMMITTEE IS CURRENTLY SEEKING CONTENT!
The 2026 ITS Southeast Summit will be hosted in Charlotte, North Carolina in March of 2026. The Summit will bring together five ITS State Chapters, including ITSGA, to share project updates, facilitate connections between peers, and build upon deep rooted relationships throughout the southeast. The technical committee has posted an RFP to help build an amazing technical track in 2026. Companies, organizations, and agencies are all welcome to submit on the RFP and be recognized as a sponsor. Responders can select a theme and are encouraged to gather a diverse group of speakers and topics to present on. Topics can be selected from your own experiences or gathered from other participants to present on a range of technical, ITS related topics. More information on the RFP can be found in our regular eblasts or by reaching out to info@itsga.org. Can’t wait to see you all at the Summit next year!
THE FIFIA WORLD CUP PANEL MEMBERS DISCUSS THE MEMORABLE EVENTS THEY HAVE MANAGED CHIEF
JASON JOSEY PROVIDES INFORMATION ON GDOT’S TRIP EXPANSION
CHRIS LYTLE
Uzun & Case Engineers, LLC
SEAOG President
www.seaog.org
JULY KICKS OFF THE NEW YEAR FOR THE SEAOG AND YMG BOARDS
The SEAOG membership year runs from July 1 – June 30, so now is the time to renew your membership (and new members are welcome!) seaog.org/Membership
2025-2026 BOARD MEMBERS ANNOUNCED
We are pleased to announce our 2025-2026 Board of Directors:
Keygan Jeffries (Koblasz and Kennison Engineering)
Nihar Khamar (HOK)
Thomas Vandiver (U+C)
Will Hellman (U+C)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Dates and times are still being finalized, but upcoming fall programming is looking to include:
SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER |
NOVEMBER | WOOD TRUSS PLANT TOUR
NCSEA SUMMIT, NEW YORK HILTON MIDTOWN
OCTOBER 14-17, 202
NCSEASUMMIT.COM/NYC-PROGRAM
AISC STEEL DAYS – STEEL PLANT TOUR WEEK OF OCTOBER 20-24
FALL SEMINAR
Event Recap: HILTI DEMO DAY
SEAOG members got some hands-on experience using Hilti’s anchoring and deck fastening systems at our Hilti Demo Day event this past week. In addition to getting hands on experience with their equipment, our members learned about some of the design parameters and design guidance for anchoring and deck fastening.
BOAG CONFERENCE
On May 7th, a delegation from SEAOG made the trek down to Sea Island for the annual Building Officials Association of Georgia (BOAG) conference. We presented for two hours with great engagement and lots of very insightful questions from the crowd. They’ve already asked us to participate again next year, so if you have any interest in presenting or in being involved in creating the presentations, contact Publicity@SEAOG.org for more information.
OUTREACH
On June 8th, SEAOG partnered with HYPE for STEM Into Summer at Westside Park. We had over 50 kids come by our table to build structures out of marshmallows and toothpicks. HYPE is an organization that empowers girls of color with technology skills and prepares them to become future leaders in tech careers, cultivating a pipeline of diverse talent for the tech industry. We had a great time seeing the towers, houses, tents, and flying robots built by these creative kids.
ANGEL MALLARD, CPSM
SMPS President
www.smpsatl.org
SMPS ATLANTA CONTINUES ITS MISSION TO SUPPORT GROWTH-FOCUSED PROFESSIONALS IN THE A/E/C INDUSTRY THROUGH EDUCATION, NETWORKING, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT.
UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENTS
Save the Date: Fall 2025 MEGA Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM
Location: City Springs Studio Theatre, Sandy Springs
One of the largest networking events in the Georgia A/E/C industry—expect high-value content, firm-to-firm interaction, and industry insights smpsatl.org/meetinginfo.php
RECENT SUMMER SESSIONS
• July 17, 2025 – The Marketer’s Hard Hat
A virtual roundtable focused on AEC marketing strategies in challenging times. Held online, and well attended by marketing leaders smpsatl.org/meetinginfo.php
• July 24, 2025 – “The Path to Success Is Not a Straight Line”
A dynamic in person panel at JE Dunn Construction featuring four experienced AEC professionals sharing career evolution and resilience insights smpsatl.org/meetinginfo.php
JOIN
THE COMMUNITY
• Get Involved: Join one of SMPS Atlanta’s committees, participate in mentor/protégé programs, or apply for leadership roles to expand your impact smpsatl.org/meetinginfo.php
• Membership Perks: Take advantage of webinars, local networking, and professional accreditation opportunities like CPSM certification smpsatl.org/meetinginfo.php
QUICK RECAP
Focus Area Details
Sep 16, 2025 Fall MEGA Meeting in Sandy Springs Summer Events July roundtable and panel were successful How to Engage Volunteering, PSMS certification, networking opportunities
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE SEPTEMBER MEGA MEETING
REGISTER FOR AMPLIFY A|E|C TO GAIN FRESH INSIGHTS AND BUILD YOUR PROFESSIONAL BRAND
1 2 3
ENGAGE LOCALLY: JOIN A COMMITTEE, ATTEND SESSIONS, AND CONSIDER CPSM CERTIFICATION FOR MORE DETAILS, TO REGISTER, OR TO VOLUNTEER, VISIT SMPSATL.ORG.
IRIS ORTIZ
WTS Atlanta President iortiz@hntb.com www.wtsinternational.org/atlanta
WTS Atlanta continues with a very busy agenda! May was an eventful month, with attendance to the 2025 WTS International Annual Conference in Toronto, Canada. WTS Atlanta was well represented at the conference with about 40 participants, and we had the privilege of honoring one of our local scholarship winners, Claudia Boero, who received the Sharon D. Banks scholarship.
Other recent events include a behind the scenes tour of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and the anticipated annual GDOT Board Breakfast, where we highlighted a group of GDOT women who talked about their career journeys.
As always, stay tuned for future events!
A LOOK BACK
Before The Beltline
A westward view capturing the historic Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant—built in 1914–15 at 699 Ponce de Leon Avenue and once the hub of Ford’s Southeast operations—now redeveloped as the Ford Factory Lofts. The adjacent railway corridor has been transformed into Atlanta’s Eastside Trail, part of the BeltLine network reconnecting Poncey–Highland and surrounding neighborhoods.
